M’CHIGEENG—In recognition of Small Business Week, October 19 to the 25, Susan Whynott of the Northern Ontario Women (NOW) program invited women entrepreneurs to an evening out at the Bittersweet Tea Company to celebrate small business and perhaps learn from each other. Certainly, it was an opportunity for women with small businesses to sit back, enjoy the sweets and the varieties of teas and listen to the speakers Ms. Whynott had lined up for their benefit.
Ms. Whynott first explained that NOW is funded by the Federal Economic Agency for Northern Ontario (FEDNOR) and administered through the LaCloche and Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC). Lots of acronyms for the women to digest, with one more thrown in for good measure – the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
Before discussing just what these corporations had to offer, Ms. Whynott threw out a few statistics to consider. “These statistics are fairly important to women in business and why I think women need extra support,” she said. In the census report from 2021, women represented 50.9 percent of the population. Women in business was 18.6 percent—a huge disparity, for which programs like NOW have been formed to help. The NOW program’s mission is to stimulate the start-up and growth of women-owned and women-led businesses, by increasing access to business development supports across Northern Ontario.
After Ms. Whynott’s brief introduction, she invited Heidi Ferguson to speak. Ms. Ferguson is an economic development officer with LAMBAC. “Basically, my role at LAMBAC is to help our perspective, new businesses who come to us navigate through our loans process.” Ms. Ferguson went on to explain the three key components of LAMBAC’s mandate: “Our business loans program, has a variety of different financing options in terms of loans, depending on your business needs – light loans, standard loans and capital loans.” LAMBAC can also direct small businesses to other organizations that would better meet their needs.
Kristin Luoma was next to speak, representing NOHFC, Northern Ontario’s largest grant organization by far. The name itself is a little deceiving because it has the word Heritage imbedded in it, leading people to believe it is heritage and culture focused, “but that’s not actually the case at all,” said Ms. Luoma. “It is more focussed on community and economic development.” It offers a slew of funding programs not just for small businesses, but there are community-based projects benefiting from the organization as well.
Because of the heavy rain that fell on the night of the event, not all who intended to come showed up. The group was small and intimate, making it easier for some to ask questions. The women present, entrepreneurs, some new, some seasoned, gave their full attention to the speakers, asking questions pertaining to their own businesses. ‘Where would one go to find out how to learn about building their own website? What loans or grants might one find pertaining to expansion? The answers provided were very helpful. “I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Cyndy Tonge, who opened her successful Knitters Cove in Little Current in May. “I found the speakers so informative. I thought it was great.”
In addition to the tea and sweets, and the valuable information and business cards provided by knowledgeable women, there were door prizes and the opportunity to meet and talk with other women entrepreneurs. This is what Ms. Whynott most enjoys doing – bringing women together. The information is invaluable, but no more so than the support of fellow business owners. And what better place for women business owners to celebrate Small Business Week than in the lovely Bittersweet Tea Co. owned and run by Shanna Hare.
by Margery Frisch
